Storage and packaging device

ABSTRACT

A packaging and storage device which includes one or more transparent structures each of which may include a portion of an image and which together form a completed image having an effective three-dimensional appearance. In one particular embodiment, the packaging and storage device include a support and protective structure for securing and protecting a storage media such as a digital video disc DVD within the device and the DVD includes an image thereon that is coordinated with the other images to forms a completed image.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/436,812 (filed Jan. 27, 2011), thecontents of this application being hereby incorporated by reference forall purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present teachings relate generally to articles, apparatus andprocesses for packaging and storing articles and more specifically to amedia storage apparatus and to a process for providing athree-dimensional effect when viewing the media storage apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Media storage devices are often sufficiently fragile that specializedpackaging, is developed in an effort to prevent damage to the devices.As an example, digital video discs (DVD) and/or compact discs (CD) areoften packaged so that movement of the disc within the packaging islimited thereby reducing the likelihood of scratching and other damageto the disc. Despite the continued developments to obtain improved andadvanced storage apparatuses with improved media protection, there longremains a need to provide added features and benefits to suchapparatuses. Such added features are challenging to implement givenchanges in technologies, such as Blu-ray discs (BD) which are even moresensitive to scratching than traditional disc storage mediums.

Such added features are more challenging given the existing requiredfeatures for such packaging for storage mediums which must provide areusable package in which the storage mediums can be stored. Further,the packaging must also include sufficient surfaces for providinginformation regarding the contents. Accordingly, there long exists aneed for product packaging that provides added features while continuingto minimize damage to the contents by providing internal structures forlimiting movement of the contents and for safe removal and replacementof the contents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present teachings provide for an apparatus for use as a packagingfor a storage media such as a digital video disc (DVD) and the like and,in one exemplary embodiment, includes a clam-shell casing having a firstside portion and a second side portion wherein the disc is safely storedand is capable of providing an improved visual effect. In one exemplaryembodiment, the first side portion is transparent, or is at leastpartially translucent and, optionally, includes an image.

The apparatus further includes a cover member in the form of a thin filmhaving an outer member having an image thereon, and an inner memberhaving an image thereon. In one particular exemplary embodiment, theouter and inner members each include a transparent, or at least apartially translucent portion and the storage medium includes an imagethereon and wherein the image on the storage medium can be viewedthrough the outer member, the side first portion and the inner portion.In the one embodiment, each of the outer member, first side portion andinner member include selected elements of an image and are arranged toprovide a three-dimensional appearance to the completed image.

Advantageously, in one embodiment, the storage media is a DVD includingan additional portion of an image, which may be a third or fourthportion of the image. The image may be located on at least one side ofthe DVD and the DVD is located onto the second side portion of thepackaging and when the packaging is closed, the portion of the imagelocated on the surface of the DVD is viewable through the outer member,the first side portion and the inner member to be part of thethree-dimensional image.

The teachings herein contemplate an apparatus and method for thepackaging and storage of a DVD wherein the DVD is located within apackaging structure and a three-dimensional image is thereby completed.The packaging disclosed herein may allow for the secure containment ofmedia storage devices. The second portion may include retainingstructures shaped to correspond with the shape of the storage medium(DVD) intended for secure placement thereon. The packaging structure mayfurther include features for minimizing direct contact with the storagemedia (DVD) within the packaging to further protect the goods fromdamage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an illustrative example ofthe packaging of the present teachings.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, diagrammatic perspective view of the illustrativeexample of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present teachings.

FIG. 3 is a partial, sectional diagrammatic view of the illustrativeexample of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present teachings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, the teachings as embodied in the description herein disclosea packaging that provides a three-dimensional effect when viewing thepackaging from at least one point of view. More particularly, thepackaging having a three dimensional effect is for storing andcommercializing a digital video disc (DVD) containing a movie to beviewed on a television set and a DVD player providing athree-dimensional viewing experience. Accordingly, the packagingprovides a three-dimensional effect intended to be representative of thethree-dimensional movie.

Referring generally to the drawings, wherein like reference numeralsrefer to like parts throughout, the improved DVD and/or compact disc(CD) package of these teachings is referred to generally at 10. Package10 generally includes a tray or body 12 useful for holding andprotecting a storage media such as a standard digital video disc (DVD),high-definition video disc (i.e., Blu-ray or HD DVD), compact disc (CD),and the like. The body 12 includes a first portion (e.g., a first sideportion) 14 and a second portion (e.g., a second side portion) 16interconnected by a spine 18 to form a generally clam-shell holder as isgenerally known in the packaging of storage media such as DVDs. In oneembodiment, the body 12 is generally of a standard configuration for astandard case for containing and protecting a standard or highdefinition digital video disc (DVD). In the one embodiment, all parts ofthe body 12 may be made from any known or appropriate type of agenerally clear or transparent and/or translucent material, inparticular a plastic.

In the embodiment shown, the body 12 has a generally clam-shell typedesign such that the spine 18 is essentially a unitary hinge as isgenerally known in DVD storage devices. Alternatively, any known orappropriate spine 18 and/or hinge may be used in the body 12 forcoupling the first portion 14 and the second portion 16. It is evenpossible that no spine 18 is included and that instead the first portion14 is separate from the second portion 16 and they are coupled togetherusing any known or appropriate fastener, connector, coupler, etc. In theembodiment shown, the first portion 14 is connected or fastened to thesecond portion when the body 12 is in a closed position, as shown inFIG. 1, using any known or appropriate structure such as a barb (notshown) as is well known.

The first portion 14 of the body 12, in the one embodiment shown,includes a pair of prongs of holders 21 located toward the outer edge ofthe first portion 14 and having a given distance between them. Theholders 21 are preferably unitarily and/or integrally formed with thefirst portion 14 as part of forming the body 12 such as during aninjection molding process for forming the body 12. The holders 21 aredesigned to provide a holder for holding in place a sheet or thin film30 (e.g., an inner member) that is to be inserted on the internal sideof the first portion 14. When the sheet 30 is held in place by theholders 21, it is possible to view an image 33 located on the sheet 30through the transparent panel 15 of the first portion 14.

The sheet 30 may include a first panel having four side edges but mayalso be designed to have other shapes and features. The sheet 30, shownin the present embodiment, does not include any, but the sheet 30 mayinclude one or more openings or other functional and design features.The sheet 30 shown includes trees on each side of a centrally locatedopen area but may include any known or appropriate image or images inany known or appropriate locations on the sheet 30. The sheet 30 is alsopreferably comprised of a transparent and/or translucent material sothat images shown on the disc 40 or the second portion 16 may bevisible.

As can be seen best in FIG. 2, the DVD disc 40 may also contain an image41 that may be aligned with the image 33 of the sheet 30 so the image 41may also be seen through the panel 15 of the first portion 14. While thedisc 40 is shown as containing only a single image 41, which comprises acrescent moon and a cloud, the disc 40 may include multiple images 41 orthe image 41 may extend over any portion or amount of the disc 40. Inone embodiment, the image 41 may be continuous about surface of the disc40 such that at least a portion of the image 41 will always be seenthrough the panel 15 of the first portion 14. The image 41 may beprinted directly on the disc 40 or may be printed on a label or othersheet that is then applied or coupled to the disc 40. The image 41 maybe printed or applied using any known or appropriate process forcreating the image 41.

The package, in the embodiment shown, further includes an outer cover 60that is formed as a generally rectangular sheet formed from atransparent and/or translucent plastic sheet film as is generally known.The outer cover 60 is sized to match the body 12 of the package 10 andthe outer cover 60 has one end aligned with and attached to the one sideof the first portion 14 and a second end aligned with and attached tothe one side of the second portion 16 as best shown in the cross-sectionview in FIG. 3. With the outer cover 60 coupled to the body 12 as shown,the outer cover 60 and the outer surface of the first and secondportions 14 and 16, respectively of the body 12, there is formed apocket 62 there between.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a sheet 50 having an image 55 is locatedin the pocket 62 between the outer cover 60 and the body 12. The sheet50 is preferably also a relatively thin film sheet made of any known orappropriate film material as is known in the DVD packaging area. Thesheet 50 is also preferably transparent and/or translucent such that itis possible to see through the portion of the sheet 50 that is notcovered by the image 55 in order to see through the body 12 and view theimage 33 on the inner sheet 30 and the image 41 on the disc 40 and/orthe second portion 16.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, from the above and thefigures it should now be appreciated that the image 41 of the disc 40,the image 33 of the sheet 30, and the image 55 of the sheet 50 arediffering portions of a completed image 70 as can be best seen inFIG. 1. Since the image 41, the image 33 and the image 55 are all indifferent planes of the DVD package 10 they will therefore provide atleast some three-dimensional effect to the completed image 70 whenviewed from the side of the package 10. As the package 10 is moved orrotated, a viewer of the completed image 70 on the package 10 will seerelative movement of the images 41, 33, 55 and therefore perceive a 3Deffect. While in the one embodiment shown in the figures, the printingof the images 41, 33, 55 is done using traditional two-dimensionalprinting technologies. In one particular embodiment of the presentdisclosure it is expected that one or more of the images, 41, 33, 55 (orany additional images that may be printed onto one or more of the outercover 60, the second portion 16, and/or the first portion 14) may beprinted using a three-dimensional (3D) printing process such as the 3Deffect of the completed image 70 may be enhanced and improved. In oneparticular embodiment, one or more of the images 41, 33, 55 may beprinted using a 3D printing technique such as a HALS lens processavailable from Harris & Bruno as disclosed on the www.harris-bruno.comwebsite. The HALS lens process may be used for one or more of the images41, 33, 55 (or any additional images that may be printed onto one ormore of the outer cover 60, the second portion 16, and/or the firstportion 14) of the completed image 70 consistent with the descriptionherein. In another embodiment, one or more of the images 41, 33, 55 maybe printed using the Phantaglyph® 3D printing technique (a registeredtrademark of 3DX of Newport Beach, Calif. and available atwww.go3dx.com). In these embodiments, it is expected that the 3Dprinting of one or more of the images 41, 33, 55 of the completed image70 will appear above the surface of the outer layer 60 in full 3Dappearance. In particular, the completed 3D image portion of thecompleted image 70 is easily printed with its encoding already built-in,and using only modern printing equipment. In particular, there is nocomputer, monitor or electricity needed for the 3D image portion of thecompleted image 70 to appear on the DVD package 10.

The packaging 10 may be formed by producing the holder body 12 using anyknow or appropriate process such as injection molding and producing theouter cover 60 using any known or appropriate process for producing arelatively thin, flat and generally flexible sheet or substrate. Thesubstrate for forming the outer cover 60, the outer insert 50 and theinner insert 30 may be any material pliable enough to be folded alongwith the opening and closing of the clam shell holder body 12 but strongenough to withstand its own weight when contained in the body 12. Thebody 12 may be formed of materials similar to those used for formingother aspects of the packaging. The body 12 may also be formed of morerigid materials for protecting the packaging contents and DVD disc asare known in the DVD packaging art. A particular feature of thematerials is that they are selected to be sufficiently durable towithstand continuous opening and closing of the body 12 and the pullingout and insertion of the inner insert 30, the outer insert 50 and/or thedisc 40.

The substrate material used for the inner and outer inserts 30 and 50,respectively and the outer cover 60 may be formed of a polymericmaterial including but not limited to thermoplastics, thermosetplastics, elastomeric-containing materials or any combination thereof.Examples of polymeric materials that may be employed include polyamide,polyester, polystyrene, polyethylene (including polyethyleneterephthlate, high density polyethylene and low density polyethylene),polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, bio-based plastics/biopolymers (e.g.,poly lactic acid), silicone, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), orany combination thereof. The gauge of the material may vary depending onthe size of the carrier or the desired strength of the packaging.

The packaging 10 may also include designs or coverings to add adecorative element to any of the body 12, the inner and outer inserts 30and 50, respectively, the first portion 14 and second portion 16 of thebody 12, and/or the outer cover 60. The packaging 10 and its portionsmay include designs and information attributable to the contents of thedisc 40.

As an example, in the case of a DVD packaging, the top surface of theshell portion (e.g., the first side portion) may include the title and aphoto or design related to the film contained herein, while theremaining shell portion surfaces (e.g., the spine and/or the second sideportion) may include additional design and information relating to thefilm within. In such an example, a portion of the package may alsocontain additional information, design attributes or photos from thefilm including stills, scene synopses, reviews, credits or the like. Anycoating or other design element may be attached to any surface of thepackaging via an adhesive. Any coating or other design element may beink jet or laser printed directly onto any surface of the packaging. Anysurface of the packaging may be embossed, printed, silkscreened, orengraved with a design element. Any design element or coating may becustomizable. Any coating or design element may include a pre-loadedadhesive material or other attachment means for simplified placement ofthe coating or design element onto the packaging.

In addition to the structures and designs explicitly disclosed above itshould be understood that alternative designs and structures arepossible. For example, one or more additional portions of the packagingmay also or alternatively include images to create the 3D effect. As anexample, one or more of the surfaces of the outer cover and the firstportion and/or second portion of the body may include images as well asor opposed to the outer insert, the inner insert, and the disc itself.Further, the first portion and/or second portion of the body may includea retaining structure for preventing movement (e.g., spinning) of thedisc within the packaging. Thus, the disc may be maintained in anappropriate position so that the completed image is viewed as intendedand includes any image on the disc itself in its intended location.

Any numerical values recited herein include all values from the lowervalue to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that thereis a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and anyhigher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of acomponent or a value of a process variable such as, for example,temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90,preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intendedthat values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. areexpressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are lessthan one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 asappropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intendedand all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowestvalue and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to beexpressly stated in this application in a similar manner. As can beseen, the teaching of amounts expressed as “parts by weight” herein alsocontemplates the same ranges expressed in terms of percent by weight.Thus, an expression in the Detailed Description of the Invention of arange in terms of at “‘x’ parts by weight of the resulting polymericblend composition” also contemplates a teaching of ranges of samerecited amount of “x” in percent by weight of the resulting polymericblend composition.”

Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and allnumbers between the endpoints. The use of “about” or “approximately” inconnection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of atleast the specified endpoints.

The disclosures of all articles and references, including patentapplications and publications, are incorporated by reference for allpurposes. The term “consisting essentially of” to describe a combinationshall include the elements, ingredients, components or steps identified,and such other elements ingredients, components or steps that do notmaterially affect the basic and novel characteristics of thecombination. The use of the terms “comprising” or “including” todescribe combinations of elements, ingredients, components or stepsherein also contemplates embodiments that consist essentially of theelements, ingredients, components or steps. By use of the term “may”herein, it is intended that any described attributes that “may” beincluded are optional.

Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps can be provided by asingle integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively,a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step might bedivided into separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps.The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient,component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements,ingredients, components or steps.

It is understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as manyapplications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those ofskill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of theinvention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to theabove description, but should instead be determined with reference tothe appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to whichsuch claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles andreferences, including patent applications and publications, areincorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in thefollowing claims of any aspect of subject matter that is disclosedherein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it beregarded that the inventors did not consider such subject matter to bepart of the disclosed inventive subject matter.

1. A packaging comprising: a body having a first portion having a firsttransparent portion and the body having a second portion adjacent thefirst portion, the first and second portions of the body forming a firstarea between the first and second portions; an outer cover having afirst end coupled to the first portion of the body and a second endcoupled to the second portion of the body wherein the outer coverincludes a first transparent portion aligned with the first transparentportion of the body and wherein the outer cover and the firsttransparent portion of the body form a second area there between; afirst insert having a first transparent portion, the first insert beinglocated in the first area in the body and the first transparent portionof the first insert being aligned with the first transparent portion ofthe body; a second insert having a first transparent portion, the secondinsert being located in the second area between the outer cover and thebody and the first transparent portion of the second insert beingaligned with the first transparent portion of the body and the firsttransparent portion of the first insert; and wherein at least two of thefirst transparent portion of the body, the first insert and the secondinsert have an image thereon and the at least two images form acomposite image having a three-dimensional effect.
 2. The packaging ofclaim 1, further comprising a holder structure located on the body ofthe packaging, the holder structure for holding a disc.
 3. The packagingof claim 1, wherein the packaging includes a disc.
 4. The packaging ofclaim 3, wherein the disc includes an image to be aligned with the firsttransparent portion and to be combined with the at least two images toform the composite image.
 5. The packaging of claim 4, wherein the firsttransparent portion of the body, the first insert, the second insert,and the disc have an image thereon and the images on each of the firsttransparent portion of the body, the first insert and the second insertform a composite image having a three-dimensional effect.
 6. Thepackaging of claim 1, wherein each of the first transparent portion ofthe body, the first insert and the second insert have an image thereon.7. The packaging of claim 1, wherein the packaging is for storing andprotecting a digital video disc or a music disc.
 8. The packaging ofclaim 1, wherein the first insert and the second insert include an imagethereon and the first transparent portion of the body is free of anyimage.
 9. The packaging of claim 8, wherein a disc is located into thefirst area and includes an image thereon.
 10. A packaging comprising: abody having a first portion having a first transparent portion and thebody having a second portion adjacent the first portion of the body, thefirst and second portions of the body forming a first area between thefirst and second portions; an outer cover having a first end coupled tothe first portion of the body and a second end coupled to the secondportion of the body wherein the outer cover includes a first transparentportion aligned with the first transparent portion of the body andwherein the outer cover and the first transparent portion of the bodyform a second area there between; a first insert having a firsttransparent portion, the first insert being located in the first area inthe body and the first transparent portion of the first insert beingaligned with the first transparent portion of the body; a disc locatedwithin the first area; wherein the first insert and the disc each havean image thereon and the two images form a composite image having athree-dimensional effect.
 11. The packaging of claim 10, wherein thepackaging includes a second insert having a first transparent portion,the second insert being located in the second area between the outercover and the body and the first transparent portion of the secondinsert being aligned with the first transparent portion of the body andthe first transparent portion of the first insert.
 12. The packaging ofclaim 10, wherein the first portion of the body includes an imagethereon that forms a composite image with the image on the first insertand the image on the disc.
 13. The packaging of claim 11, wherein thefirst portion of the body includes an image thereon that forms acomposite image with the image on the first insert, the image on thesecond insert, and the image on the disc.
 14. The packaging of claim 10,wherein the image located on the disc is visible through the firsttransparent portion of the body and the first transparent portion of thefirst insert.
 15. The packaging of claim 10, wherein the second portionof the body includes a retaining structure for preventing movement ofthe disc so that the image located on the disc is visible through thefirst transparent portion of the body and the first transparent portionof the first insert.
 16. A packaging comprising a first insert having afirst transparent portion and an image portion located on the firstinsert so that any image located behind the first insert is visiblethrough the first transparent portion but is not visible through theimage.
 17. The packaging of claim 16, wherein the first insert islocated into an outer cover having a first end coupled to a firstportion of a body and a second end coupled to a second portion of thebody wherein the outer cover includes a first transparent portion. 18.The packaging of claim 17, wherein the first portion of the bodyincludes a first transparent portion and wherein the first transparentportion of the body, the first transparent portion of the outer coverand the first transparent portion of the first insert are aligned. 19.The packaging of claim 18, wherein the first and second portions of thebody form a first area between the first and second portions.
 20. Thepackaging of claim 19, wherein a second insert is located within thefirst area between the first and second portions.